Achieving equitable widespread residential building electrification – examining barriers, strategies, and opportunities using Los Angeles as a case study

Abstract

The decarbonization of residential buildings via electrification is imperative given that the energy consumed by residential buildings is the third largest end use sector in the United States with a majority of this energy being derived from fossil fuel combustion. Using Los Angeles as a case study, this paper models the techno-economics of four electrification upgrades at a variety of efficiency levels. These electrification upgrades are then put into the broad context of full residential building electrification to understand the equity outcomes in this transition. Results show that electrification via the lowest efficiency electric technologies will increase costs for households with the most common natural gas equipment and will increase the energy burden for all households, with low-income households experiencing twice the relative increase in energy burden as compared to higher income households. Additionally, under this scenario, the grid in Los Angeles will see a 40 % and 50 % increase in total annual and daily peak consumption, respectively. To meet these energy generation, transmission, and distribution needs, Los Angeles projects a six-fold increase in electricity rates. Whereas electrification via the highest efficiency electric technologies will decrease the total annual and daily electricity demand, it will decrease energy burden for all households, with the greatest reductions experienced by low-income households, and it will decrease the annual utility bills of renters anywhere from $200 to $750 with an upgrade to high-efficiency space heating and $40 to $90 for an upgrade to an electric storage heat pump water heater. Given these barriers, governments and utilities must find strategies to support households, especially vulnerable ones, in this transition to residential building electrification.